Tammy Bass, mother of a former soldier, David Bass, who was killed in action. He signed up to serve after 9/11, and now she's dedicating her life to those who serve. Bass works for the USO at Nashville International Airport Friday, Sept. 8, 2017 in Nashville, Tenn.(Photo: George Walker IV / The Tennessea)

9/11 will always be a bittersweet day for a Nashville mother who saw her life change in a different way than many others on that fateful day.

David Bass, then 16, was always compelled to serve his country, and the tragedy of the day only cemented his intent. His mother, Tammy, wasn't as keen to the idea, but knew her son was stubborn and there was little he could do.

Sixteen years later, she still sees the day as one that's troubling, but now in a different way. She sees a much different country and atmosphere in the U.S.

"It was 'what can we do'," she said. "That's changed. Why are we still not caring about what can we do?"

Whether it's support the military, like Bass does as the only full-time employee of the United Service Organization in Tennessee, or volunteer somewhere, she hopes that fervor in patriotism and camaraderie across the county can be rekindled.

"This country needs to realize nothing's changed," she said.

Tammy Bass helps Army veteran Charles Wall check into the USO lounge at the Nashville International Airport Friday, Sept. 8, 2017 in Nashville, Tenn. Bass is a mother of a former soldier who was killed in action. He signed up to serve after 9/11, and now she's dedicating her life to those who serve.(Photo: George Walker IV / The Tennessea)

About David Bass, the Nashville Marine compelled by 9/11

David Bass volunteered for the Marine Corps almost as soon as he turned 18, after graduating from Overton High School. He was asked often why he wanted to serve, and after joining, was even more often reminded of the dangers and what was possible.

He didn't care. It's what he fought for, Tammy said.

"He would always tell them 'It takes people like me who are willing to go fight for your freedom to protest,'" she said.

He said it so often and believed it so deeply it's now engraved on his headstone, Bass said.

David left for Iraq in 2006. He was a "dispenser," which entailed helping provide restitution to Iraqi families who lost property or loved ones in the fighting. He would make regular trips between Al Asad Air Base and Haditha Dam, his permanent station.

One day, after replying to an ongoing email conversation with his mom, he was caught in a flash flood. It took the Marine Corps hours to find his body.

He lied about the danger he was faced with, but Tammy says it was to protect her.

Tammy Bass talks with Army Captain Daniel Hernandez at the USO lounge at the Nashville International Airport Friday, Sept. 8, 2017 in Nashville, Tenn. Bass is a mother of a former soldier who was killed in action. He signed up to serve after 9/11, and now she's dedicating her life to those who serve.(Photo: George Walker IV / The Tennessea)

'It's not ancient history'

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It took years for Bass to grieve and come to terms with her son's death. Bass said she could almost feel her son talking to her when she went through bouts of depression and sorrow.

But then she found the USO, and she too, was called to serve troops and veterans, even though once she objected to her own son doing the same

"In the first days and weeks (at the USO), I could almost feel him smiling," she said.

And though she and her son have found common ground beyond the grave about serving the country, she hopes too the rest of the country can do the same.

"I just think a lot of our country is not aligned and that it's ancient history, well it's not ancient history," she said.

Data supports how Bass feels

There's some data to support Bass's intuition.

In the weeks after 9/11, a Gallup poll recorded a spike in national unity, the only such occasion in modern era. Today, more than three-quarters of the country says it is greatly divided.

Other Gallup polls show the general mood of the country spike at the time to more than 70 percent of the country say they were satisfied.

Since then, the satisfaction percentage has only once again been as high as 70 percent, in April 2003 when the U.S. began its invasion into Iraq. The most recent poll shows it at a meager 28 percent.

"That's what I spend a lot of 9/11 thinking is where did that emotion go," she said.

Jake Lowary covers veterans and military affairs for the USA Today Network. Reach him at 931-237-1583 or follow him on Twitter @JakeLowary.